Our Daily Bread (1934 film)
Encyclopedia
Our Daily Bread is a 1934
film directed by King Vidor
and starring Karen Morley
, Tom Keene, and John Qualen
. Vidor tried to interest Irving Thalberg
of MGM in the project, but Thalberg rejected the idea. Vidor then produced the film himself and released it through United Artists
.
The film is also known as Hell's Crossroads (American reissue title)
, killing the crops. The people then dig a ditch by hand almost two miles long to divert water from a creek to irrigate the crops. The film is an entertaining, uplifting political allegory about the virtues of collective, non-corporate action, self-sufficiency, and the rewards of hard-work rather than the rewards of rapacious finance capitalism; it is not an instructional "how-to" film from an agricultural institute; consequently, the film ends with the people celebrating wildly in the water then harvesting the crops, not showing how they managed to direct the narrow stream of water over the huge plain to evenly irrigate the crops.
1934 in film
-Events:*January 26 - Samuel Goldwyn purchases the film rights to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz from the L. Frank Baum estate for $40,000.*February 19 - Bob Hope marries Dolores Reade...
film directed by King Vidor
King Vidor
King Wallis Vidor was an American film director, film producer, and screenwriter whose career spanned nearly seven decades...
and starring Karen Morley
Karen Morley
-Life and career:Born Mildred Linton in Ottumwa, Iowa, Morley lived there until she was thirteen years old. When she came to Hollywood, she attended Hollywood High School, and she later graduated from UCLA....
, Tom Keene, and John Qualen
John Qualen
John Qualen was a Canadian-American character actor of Norwegian heritage who specialized in Scandinavian roles....
. Vidor tried to interest Irving Thalberg
Irving Thalberg
Irving Grant Thalberg was an American film producer during the early years of motion pictures. He was called "The Boy Wonder" for his youth and his extraordinary ability to select the right scripts, choose the right actors, gather the best production staff and make very profitable films.-Life and...
of MGM in the project, but Thalberg rejected the idea. Vidor then produced the film himself and released it through United Artists
United Artists
United Artists Corporation is an American film studio. The original studio of that name was founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks....
.
The film is also known as Hell's Crossroads (American reissue title)
Plot summary
The film depicts a couple, down on their luck during the Great Depression, who move to a farm to try to make a go of living off the land. They don't have a clue at first, but soon find other people down on their luck to help them. Soon they have a collective of people, some from the big city, who work together on a farm. There is a severe droughtDrought
A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region...
, killing the crops. The people then dig a ditch by hand almost two miles long to divert water from a creek to irrigate the crops. The film is an entertaining, uplifting political allegory about the virtues of collective, non-corporate action, self-sufficiency, and the rewards of hard-work rather than the rewards of rapacious finance capitalism; it is not an instructional "how-to" film from an agricultural institute; consequently, the film ends with the people celebrating wildly in the water then harvesting the crops, not showing how they managed to direct the narrow stream of water over the huge plain to evenly irrigate the crops.
Cast
- Karen MorleyKaren Morley-Life and career:Born Mildred Linton in Ottumwa, Iowa, Morley lived there until she was thirteen years old. When she came to Hollywood, she attended Hollywood High School, and she later graduated from UCLA....
as Mary Sims - Tom Keene as John Sims
- Barbara Pepper as Sally
- Addison RichardsAddison RichardsAddison Richards was an American film actor. He appeared in over 300 films between 1933 and 1964. He died from a heart attack...
as Louie Fuente - John QualenJohn QualenJohn Qualen was a Canadian-American character actor of Norwegian heritage who specialized in Scandinavian roles....
as Chris Larsen - Lloyd Ingraham as Uncle Anthony
- Sidney BraceySidney BraceySidney Bracey was an Australian-born American film actor. After a stage career in Australia, on Broadway and in Britain, he appeared in 321 films between 1909 and 1942.-Life and career:...
as Rent Collector - Henry HallHenry HallHenry Hall may refer to:In politics and government:* Henry Hall, 4th Viscount Gage , British peer* Henry C. Hall , attorney and member of the Interstate Commerce Commission appointed by President Wilson...
as Frank - the Carpenter - Nellie V. Nichols as Mrs. Cohen
- Frank Minor as Plumber
- Bud Ray as Stonemason
Soundtrack
- Sidney Bracey - "Just Because You're You"
- The farmers - "You're in the Army Now" (Traditional)
- Musicians at the farm - "Gwine to Rune All Night (De Camptown Races)" (Music by Stephen FosterStephen FosterStephen Collins Foster , known as the "father of American music", was the pre-eminent songwriter in the United States of the 19th century...
) - Tom Keene - "Oh! Susanna" with modified lyrics (Music and lyrics by Stephen Foster)